Editor’s note: The following story incorrectly originally stated what grade April Wallis teaches. Wallis teaches first grade at McLaurin Elementary School. The story has been corrected. We regret the error and are glad to set the record straight.

By Christian Coffman

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — An administrator and a teacher from McLaurin Elementary recently took home top honors from the Natchez-Adams School District’s annual awards.    

First-grade teacher April Wallis and Principal Brittaney Cheatham of McLaurin Elementary School were named NASD Teacher of the Year and Administrator of the Year, respectively.

Wallis said she was humbled and honored to be chosen as teacher of the year.

“I love to teach, and I’m blessed to be able to do something that I love every day,” she said. “I especially love my children, and making a difference in their lives.”

Wallis said her man objective in the classroom is getting to know individual students and taking a genuine interest in determining their specific learning styles.

“Children have this uncanny sense of knowing when a person is genuine,” Wallis said. “My children know that I love them, and that helps motivate them to want to come to school.”

Wallis’ mother was a teacher and inspired her to seek a career in education as well.

“She’s a huge reason as to why I’m a teacher,” Wallis said. “She inspired me to become what I am today.”

Cheatham, once a teacher at McLaurin, said the administrator award has motivated her to continue empowering students, staff and families.

“It’s time for me to now give back more, almost by doing less,” Cheatham said. “That sounds strange, but sometimes you’re so spread out that you accomplish little. So I want to be intentional with my focuses.”

The three-part process for choosing the administrator and teacher of the year changed this year, with a new community involvement aspect as part of the final score.

Teacher of the year award nominees then fill out an application for the honor.

The third and new aspect of the award process includes an application review and an interview by a was a community panel — made up of retired educators, business professionals and others.

Administrator award nominees are not required to fill out an application and are interviewed by a different community panel.

“This process of community voting spoke well about each of their work,” district spokesman Steven Richardson said. “As a district, we expect quality leadership that can champion a team of educators. It shows that they are leaders.

The district-level awards mean Cheatham and Wallis are now eligible to be selected as administrator or teacher of the year by the state department of education.